The faculty of the Longwood University Department of Music will celebrate the opening of the academic year by presenting its annual First Night Gala concert on Monday, Aug. 26. Free and open to the public, the concert will take place in the Molnar Recital Hall of Wygal Music Building at 7:30 p.m., with doors open at 7:10 p.m.

The program will feature nine members of the teaching faculty, in solos and various combinations. Dr. Lisa Kinzer, pianist and Chair of the Department, will open the program with a performance of the Prelude from Edvard Grieg’s “Holberg Suite.” Dr. Kevin Callihan, newly-appointed director of the LU Wind Symphony, will follow, with a performance of the Sonata in F Minor by Georg Telemann on the euphonium. The first portion of the evening will be rounded out by two Italian songs sung by Dr. Christopher Swanson.

The middle portion of the program will include a set of variations based on a hymn tune performed by Marcus Grant, Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet, and sets of solo songs from Drs. Pamela McDermott, director of Choral Activities, and Dr. Lisa Burrs, associate professor of Voice.

The program will conclude with the Berceuse by Frederic Chopin, performed by Kristin Topham, adjunct instructor of Piano, and the exuberant Capriccio for Clarinet, Alto Saxophone and Piano by John Heins, as performed by Drs. Roland Karnatz, Charles Kinzer and Lisa Kinzer.

The Longwood University Department of Music presents over 40 public concerts each year. For more information about this concert, or to become a Friend of the Performing Arts at Longwood, call the Department of Music at (434) 395-2495 or (434) 395-2504.